The delightful scene from summer 1957 is one of many fascinating memories during a tribute aired on BBC1 tonight

But never with such amusing results as in this amazing photo taken by the Queen in 1957 and released by Buckingham Palace yesterday.

Joined by a corgi, Charles, aged eight, and sister Anne, six, smiled after they were buried up to their necks on Holkham beach near the Royal Family’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

It seems like a world away from the time in 2005 when Charles must have longed for a hole in the ground to open up and swallow him when microphones picked up on him slating BBC reporter Nicholas Witchell by saying: “I can’t bear that man.”

The delightful scene from summer 1957 is one of the many fascinating memories Charles talks about during a tribute to his beloved “Mama” to be aired on BBC1 tonight.

He also reveals the extraordinary moments when he was aged four and his mother would parade around in the St Edward’s Crown to prepare herself for her Coronation in June 1953.

Charles says: “I remember my mama coming up when we were being bathed as children, wearing the crown. It was quite funny – practising.”

During the hour-long tribute, filmed in the private quarters of several royal residences, Charles watches behind-the-scenes footage of the Coronation as the Queen juggled the role of mother and monarch as she walked along the corridor of Buckingham Palace.

Buckingham Palace

Majestic: Queen and Charles at the Palace on day of her coronation

Full of praise for his mother, Charles comments on her “amazing poise” and “natural grace”.

He adds: “My mama takes great pride in her family, from being a young mother at the start of her reign, to now being a great-grandmother twice over.”

Charles shares his memories of personal moments captured on camera, such as his mother and father visiting him on his sports day in 1957 and his investiture as Prince of Wales in 1969, for which, he says, they practised in the gardens of the Palace.

Ahead of the weekend of Diamond Jubilee celebrations, the heir to the throne also talks about the Queen’s extraordinary public achievements in the 60 years of her reign.

Charles says: “The Diamond Jubilee gives us the chance to celebrate with pride all that the Queen means to us – whether as a nation or as one of her children.

"I so admire the way she’s managed to hold that unique association – the Commonwealth – together.

"I think the sheer number of heads of state coming to the jubilee celebrations shows the respect and affection with which my mama is held around the world.”

Charles, who offended architects in 1984 when he blasted the proposed extension to the National Gallery as a “monstrous carbuncle”, also points out that the Queen has opened Parliament 59 times.

Charles adds that two of her 12 Prime Ministers were not even born when she came to the throne in 1952.

BBC

Good sports: Mother and son on sports day in 1957

He says: “The fact that my mama has been a constant feature on the scene has provided that sense, I think, of continuity in a time of immense change over 60 years.

“The Queen has provided an amazing record of devotion, dedication and commitment.”

She was even working yesterday as she presented former Australian Prime Minister John Howard with the Order of Merit at Buckingham Palace.

Charles was also busy yesterday as he got a sneak preview of the Diamond Jubilee river pageant when he took a tour of some of the ships that will make up the 1,000-boat flotilla which will be seven miles long. He met craftsmen who have converted the Spirit of Chartwell, a Thames tourist cruiser, into a vessel fit to carry him, the Queen, Prince Philip, Camilla, Wills, Kate and Harry on Sunday afternoon.